I accompanied dad around town today and had lunch with him. His stories ramble from one to the other and I'm never sure which 'era' he is talking about, but a couple of stories stood out for me.
1. He fed circus elephants water, carrying heavy buckets to them as they were chained by opposite front and back feet to huge stakes. Working for the circus was rewarded with a limited free ticket. He and his friends didn't know it was limited, so they complained to their uncles standing with the sheriff that evening at the circus. Because the circus owner was the man at the 'throw-a-baseball-at-the-milk-bottle' booth, the men got together, had a local one-armed baseball 'hero' knock all three bottles over, thereby pressuring the owner to let the boys in to All the circus. It worked. He also related that he and other boys helped put up the big 3-ring circus tent (I'm not sure exactly what job they did.) The men would have the ropes and poles on the outside and elephants held up the center poles on the inside as the tents were erected. Those were the days....1930's, Cherokee, OK.
2. Another of his stories of CO is how he used to walk with his friends from 12th and Orchard Ave to Appleton (5-10 miles), where there was a dance hall. Now I don't know, but I think this was when he was in high school and before he went to the army.
3. During WWII,1944-46?, he deciphered Morse code while in the Air Force as the company clerk. Not sure where he did this. Could have been USA.
4. He related how he had to tie a handkerchief over his mouth and nose to walk home from school in the dust bowl days of OK and still got a mouth full of dirt/sand.
5, He told how he missed a lot of school when he was in the 4th or 5th grade. As he looks back on it, he thinks he may have had rheumatic fever. His art teacher brought him colored pencils and a tablet which kept him busy drawing...he is a good artist, just never pursued it...superfluous in his 'work to provide' mentality. He also had a good singing voice on the rare times he joined us singing songs on car trips. He probably could have pursued a music degree. He definitely enjoyed and still talks about how he liked playing the drums in the marching band (probably 8th, 9th grade) in OK. He didn't want to follow the rules of the band teacher here in CO, so dropped out of band....typical behavioral response for him throughout his life. He doesn't get along, so tells people off and then cuts them out of his life.
6. When he was 17 yrs or so, he went on a short (not more than a couple weeks) cattle drive here in the mountains of CO to town. I'll have to ask again to get the names of the places. This story brought up the fact that before his family left OK, they lived on a farm and he had a pony that he rode with 3 of his brothers, cages of homing pigeons (which his sister accidentally let escape and they never returned...rather funny for homing pigeons, I think), dogs, cats, 2 white rat pets. His family had chickens for eggs and ones they butchered for Sunday dinners. Once, he forgot one of his pet white rats was in his pocket when he went to a 'picture show' and it jumped down the blouse of a girl-friend.
7.They had 'taffy pulling' parties and his older sister Nelle made the best taffy! (I remember that aunt coming twice to our home when I was growing up and involving us in making her taffy.
8.Nelle was the sibling assigned to look after him while his mom supervised her 6 other children, did church work and helped run the farm. He's the youngest and came several years after the others.
These are stories that keep being retold, so I think they left major life-impressions. Whether they are all TRUE is left to your own imagination. Since I've heard these stories for many years, I imagine the core of them is true at least.
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Monday, June 13, 2011
Dry Waller
I've met this interesting person who is not my 'type' at all. Perhaps that's why he is interesting. He owns his own construction business (has for 33 yrs) and is fixing my bathroom from the swamp cooler fiasco. He is very calm and low key, even Lilo came out of her hiding place and let him pet her, then just went to her usual resting spots while we visited. He is quite a conversationalist and seems quite genuine. Hasn't used foul language. He likes to hunt and fish, has a gun collection, has 2-3 special cars he shows, has lived/traveled all over the US, including fishing in Alaska near Homer...a favorite spot of his. He likes 4-wheeling, has a big cab 4X4 diesel Ford pickup, has a dog and a cat. He says he's played hard, worked hard and really does okay financially from all the things he tells me about. He basically gutted the house he lives in now and remodeled it inside and out. Says he's done this wherever he's lived. He doesn't like to rent and showed me lots of construction errors and 'cover-ups' in my place....does make me want to move out before the place falls apart! He knows his work, I can tell. He's been divorced twice, and still has occasional contact with his 2nd wife, evidently. He's been divorced from the 2nd wife 5 years. He says he doesn't go out much anymore because he doesn't like to do stuff by himself. And he's getting older and its harder to move when he gets up in the mornings! He says he just sits home and watches TV a lot. I think it sounds like he works most of the time. He says that's basically why he and his 2nd ex split. He worked to provide for her and she didn't want to be married anymore. I don't think he has any children.
He described his house to me in glowing terms; he's proud of his work. He has hardwood floors, big kitchen, loves to grill, so he hooked his gas grill up to the gas that is in the house. He even told me he has some special washer/dryer set from New Zealand (Fisher..something) that uses less water, dries faster and only takes a screwdriver to fix. He has a gas fireplace, leather furniture with fabric seats decorated with caribou, bear and fish...he laughed about that as it wasn't his first choice. He usually likes plain leather furniture. He said he only has a couch set and a small table, minimal number of dishes and doesn't use the dish washer except to wash the filters in his hot tub. He painted the walls of his home with that faux texture to look like the walls were covered with leather. Put in french doors to his patio, has a 3 car garage, finished inside, for his show cars. He has a long, wide cement driveway that he had to fight with the city over replacing a part of the city's sidewalk. He puts a blade on his 4-wheeler to get rid of the snow in winter. He has one friend with whom he's helping remodel his house and goes out to dinner a couple nights a week with him.
Yes, we covered a lot of 'territory' in our conversations. This is the 2nd conversation I've had with him and he seems like the same nice person each time. No agendas, no bologna. We must have visited for 2 hours or more after he finished dry walling the bathroom today. I think he's a few years younger than I am, but not many.
He invited me to come make arrowheads..oh, yeah, he's into making them and collecting rocks. He told me where he lives. He is interested in seeing my dad's guns...I think he might want to buy them, but I'm sure dad would enjoy showing them off.
Oh, and he's not bad looking...'course, I haven't seen him without his baseball cap (longer gray hair sticks out) or the blue tooth phone stuck in his ear!
Just sayin'....interesting conversation to put a bright spot in my day.
He described his house to me in glowing terms; he's proud of his work. He has hardwood floors, big kitchen, loves to grill, so he hooked his gas grill up to the gas that is in the house. He even told me he has some special washer/dryer set from New Zealand (Fisher..something) that uses less water, dries faster and only takes a screwdriver to fix. He has a gas fireplace, leather furniture with fabric seats decorated with caribou, bear and fish...he laughed about that as it wasn't his first choice. He usually likes plain leather furniture. He said he only has a couch set and a small table, minimal number of dishes and doesn't use the dish washer except to wash the filters in his hot tub. He painted the walls of his home with that faux texture to look like the walls were covered with leather. Put in french doors to his patio, has a 3 car garage, finished inside, for his show cars. He has a long, wide cement driveway that he had to fight with the city over replacing a part of the city's sidewalk. He puts a blade on his 4-wheeler to get rid of the snow in winter. He has one friend with whom he's helping remodel his house and goes out to dinner a couple nights a week with him.
Yes, we covered a lot of 'territory' in our conversations. This is the 2nd conversation I've had with him and he seems like the same nice person each time. No agendas, no bologna. We must have visited for 2 hours or more after he finished dry walling the bathroom today. I think he's a few years younger than I am, but not many.
He invited me to come make arrowheads..oh, yeah, he's into making them and collecting rocks. He told me where he lives. He is interested in seeing my dad's guns...I think he might want to buy them, but I'm sure dad would enjoy showing them off.
Oh, and he's not bad looking...'course, I haven't seen him without his baseball cap (longer gray hair sticks out) or the blue tooth phone stuck in his ear!
Just sayin'....interesting conversation to put a bright spot in my day.
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Social Dreams
Our Sabbath School (SS) class had a planned picnic after church today. I was very excited about doing something social for a change. As I've said before, I'm needing some social input on a regular basis. I thought this opportunity would be a good one for me. Then yesterday afternoon, a woman I'd met recently at work called to invite me to a showing of Art Quilts with a social justice theme at the Art Center here in town. So I took her up on it.I was really too excited (and anxious) with my planned adventures!
I went to SS and church, then headed to the park for the picnic.The picnic was okay, but I had very few conversations with people and felt uncomfortable (out of my comfort zone for sure!) It was HARD WORK and I didn't feel very much like a part of the group, but I'm not giving up at this point. It was a beginning.
I left the picnic in time to meet my work-friend at the Art Center. It was awesome. There was a film about making Art Quilts(vs. traditional quilts) and several quilters talked about the processes they used in making their art quilts and how their research led them to try different themes. The theme of the quilts on display today was atrocities to women during war and other times. It was powerful. I thought a lot about my sister's art and her expressions for peace and social justice. I had this wild idea that it would be wonderful for her and I to have an exhibition on some theme: her art and perhaps my making some art quilts! Wild thoughts are what dreams are made of, are they not?
This art experience gave me motivation to try art quilting! I haven't felt that creative motivation for a long, long time. I liked the Art Center. I wanted to be a part of it. I'm going to get more involved, even if it is just to go view the new exhibits on the "free first Friday" of each month!
Thank you, God, for this day!
I went to SS and church, then headed to the park for the picnic.The picnic was okay, but I had very few conversations with people and felt uncomfortable (out of my comfort zone for sure!) It was HARD WORK and I didn't feel very much like a part of the group, but I'm not giving up at this point. It was a beginning.
I left the picnic in time to meet my work-friend at the Art Center. It was awesome. There was a film about making Art Quilts(vs. traditional quilts) and several quilters talked about the processes they used in making their art quilts and how their research led them to try different themes. The theme of the quilts on display today was atrocities to women during war and other times. It was powerful. I thought a lot about my sister's art and her expressions for peace and social justice. I had this wild idea that it would be wonderful for her and I to have an exhibition on some theme: her art and perhaps my making some art quilts! Wild thoughts are what dreams are made of, are they not?
This art experience gave me motivation to try art quilting! I haven't felt that creative motivation for a long, long time. I liked the Art Center. I wanted to be a part of it. I'm going to get more involved, even if it is just to go view the new exhibits on the "free first Friday" of each month!
Thank you, God, for this day!
Sunday, June 05, 2011
Getting into Summer
I've been off work now for a week and I set up my patio with flowers, etc., made my house even more cluttered and dirty in the process of rearranging and cleaning it and overspent my budget. I've slept in, taken long naps and sat out on the patio enjoying the sunshine. What I've accomplished could simply be stated as R&R.
Friday, I noticed my swamp cooler leaking (have I told you how much I detest those things?...see previous posts) and then part of the bathroom ceiling gave way. Extra cleaning to be done when that is fixed!
But now a week has gone by and I'm feeling that the transition into summer has taken place. I'm ready to finish the projects that lay about and chart my summer vacation.
In reflecting on this past year of work and living, I've admitted to myself openly that what I lack is a social life. I need a circle of friends here. Friendship hunger. I've always thought of myself as a loner, but this is getting too much. Dad is no companion; he's like dragging a toddler around, but much less fun..and his conversation is worse than a toddler's whine!!!! My aunt/cousins haven't spoken much since I moved out of the condo. That's a relationship I feel I need to open again, but I keep putting it off. Basically I'm a chicken when it comes to confrontation. I have begun to go to church and SS more regularly and made myself attend pot luck last week. A few people introduced themselves. I'm sorry I won't remember their names! I'd like a social group for mild hiking and exploring the area, but everyone is so 'fit' here, I feel like a slug to their vitality.
That brings me to another 'stuck place' topic...my overweight-ness and lack of physical exercise. I know, I know, I know! what I SHOULD be doing; but I don't. Somewhere inside is something against moving forward to 'be' the person on the outside that I imagine myself to be on the inside. Sigh. If I had better health insurance, I'd go to a counselor that deals with social/weight issues.
I have settled in here more this year. I've gotten used to the dry, sunny weather and enjoy the warm evenings of June. I know July will be firecracker hot, but I am savoring this weather for now. I'll have a bit of a break from it on my vacation.
I'm also considering that soon it may be a good idea for dad and I to move into the same place, so he feels less lonely and I don't have to run to his place several times a week to 'answer his calls.' I'm thinking that if we rented a larger house, I could have an area all my own and allow him that, too. It might work. By splitting the rent, we could afford it.
This transition time into summer is a good space from which to count my blessings and air out my soul. Of course, I miss my family dearly and am glad that within the next six months we'll be together a couple of times! I'm also grateful to have my job for another year, my health is holding steady, my kitty is doing well and my car is still running smoothly. God, air, water, food, shelter, family, friends, and pet companions.
And I want more?
Friday, I noticed my swamp cooler leaking (have I told you how much I detest those things?...see previous posts) and then part of the bathroom ceiling gave way. Extra cleaning to be done when that is fixed!
But now a week has gone by and I'm feeling that the transition into summer has taken place. I'm ready to finish the projects that lay about and chart my summer vacation.
In reflecting on this past year of work and living, I've admitted to myself openly that what I lack is a social life. I need a circle of friends here. Friendship hunger. I've always thought of myself as a loner, but this is getting too much. Dad is no companion; he's like dragging a toddler around, but much less fun..and his conversation is worse than a toddler's whine!!!! My aunt/cousins haven't spoken much since I moved out of the condo. That's a relationship I feel I need to open again, but I keep putting it off. Basically I'm a chicken when it comes to confrontation. I have begun to go to church and SS more regularly and made myself attend pot luck last week. A few people introduced themselves. I'm sorry I won't remember their names! I'd like a social group for mild hiking and exploring the area, but everyone is so 'fit' here, I feel like a slug to their vitality.
That brings me to another 'stuck place' topic...my overweight-ness and lack of physical exercise. I know, I know, I know! what I SHOULD be doing; but I don't. Somewhere inside is something against moving forward to 'be' the person on the outside that I imagine myself to be on the inside. Sigh. If I had better health insurance, I'd go to a counselor that deals with social/weight issues.
I have settled in here more this year. I've gotten used to the dry, sunny weather and enjoy the warm evenings of June. I know July will be firecracker hot, but I am savoring this weather for now. I'll have a bit of a break from it on my vacation.
I'm also considering that soon it may be a good idea for dad and I to move into the same place, so he feels less lonely and I don't have to run to his place several times a week to 'answer his calls.' I'm thinking that if we rented a larger house, I could have an area all my own and allow him that, too. It might work. By splitting the rent, we could afford it.
This transition time into summer is a good space from which to count my blessings and air out my soul. Of course, I miss my family dearly and am glad that within the next six months we'll be together a couple of times! I'm also grateful to have my job for another year, my health is holding steady, my kitty is doing well and my car is still running smoothly. God, air, water, food, shelter, family, friends, and pet companions.
And I want more?
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